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Wednesday, April 18, 2012

The Latest

I like Tatsumura's cloths, but it's not what I aspire to weave. For one thing, I don't like the old, musty, Chinese-influenced motifs; I've seen too many in museums, often in the unpopular old ceramics, wood carvings and metals sections. For another, I'm not crazy about the colors; to me, they are neither Chinese colors, nor Japanese colors we wear in our kimonos. (Though one can find kimonos in those colors if one knew where to go and had loads of money.) Tatsumura and the other companies reek of Imperial taste. So, lovely to admire, but not exactly... inspiring?

Besides, I'd need tiny boys sitting on top of my loom, or a Jacquard loom to weave these, and if ever I have access to a Jacquard, I'd much rather weave lovely large flower, oak leaf, or grapevine motifs; you've seen them; think old curtains. Bliss.

Still, the current piece is taking on a rather Japanese mood. This photo was taken under a whole lot of artificial lights so it look glittery, but the wefts look like I'm going to work on some tanmono, kimono fabric!